Synthetic Fibers versus Natural Fibers, Is There Really a Benefit to Natural Clothing?
As we try to clean out our home and make it a happier and healthier place to live, you might ask yourself, "Is it worth the investment to wear natural clothing?" You probably have half a dozen things that are cotton already, or at least a cotton blend, and you might have one or two pieces of linen or wool but what's the benefit? Is there a benefit? Or is this just something crunchy people came up with to make one more thing "natural" when it comes to the entire household? Well, I want to talk about the benefits of natural fibers, while also providing some references to some studies that look at the beneficial properties of these cloths.
What Is "Natural Fiber Clothing"
So last week when I talked about starting to live sustainably and naturally, one of the things I brought up was natural fiber clothing and how that is one of the important things on my list when it comes to making swaps for my home. Additionally, I talked about how I have since refused to buy any polyester or acrylic clothing and try my best to stick to things that are made from only one fiber (i.e. made with 100% cotton, 100% wool, etc.). But some of you might be going, "But why is this so important to you?" Well, let's take a look at some of the benefits of natural clothing and how it relates to our overall health so that maybe you all can get a fuller picture of what I'm talking about when I say "natural fiber clothing."
1. Our Most Common Friend: Cotton
You probably have at least a couple of cotton t-shirts in your drawers already, and you might find that cotton is one of your more comfortable pieces. Cotton isn't always woven or knit in the traditional stretchy t-shirt jersey look, so sometimes the things in your closet that are "cotton" might surprise you. My favorite weave of cotton is Mulsim as it is so soft, bouncy, and breathable. If you have a blousy shirt or dress made of cotton, it just might very well be mulsim. The weave or knit simply refers to the way the cotton fibers were woven or knit together. A cotton sweater is an example of cotton fibers being knit together, while a cotton table cloth more often than not is a very basic cotton weave. See the difference? So it might be difficult at first to tell what exactly cotton is, but undoubtedly you have some pieces of it in your home. I think it is safe to say that cotton is probably the most common natural fiber clothing in the Western world. And on that note, you might be thinking you are doing pretty well. But here's the thing. Like anything else, cotton is a crop and almost all crops in America and around the world are treated with chemicals to keep bugs and weeds off the crops. In fact, it is notoriously one of the world's most chemically intensive crops, according to The Organic Center. Conventional cotton is the third largest user of pesticides in America and is exposed to numerous chemicals like Glyphosate (which is the active ingredient in the Roundup®), Dicamba, 2,4-D, ammonia, azo, and heavy metal-based dyes, flame retardants, formaldehyde, petroleum scours, and softeners. Some of these are less serious than others, but it is important all the same that you are aware of this pattern. Additionally, this doesn't include the process of dying the fabric, packaging it, and "preserving" it while it is in transit or storage. All of these steps additionally expose the fabric to additional potentially harmful substances for the human body. And as a note, these last concerns are the case for synthetic and other forms of natural clothing as well, so keep that in mind as we continue. So at the end of the day, is cotton even worth it?
Organic cotton does not follow the same methods as conventional cotton. Organic cotton is grown from non-genetically modified plants without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides. Additionally, Organic Cotton grown in the USA must follow guidelines set by the National Organic Program (NOP) and USDA. According to the Central Coast Vineyard Team, chemicals are sometimes used on Organic cotton however they are "least toxic and least energy intensive." Overall, Organic cotton is exposed to much less harmful chemicals and is overall more sustainable. See Central Coast Vineyard Team for more information. However, just because the cotton is grown organically, doesn't mean the process after the crop is harvested is safe. Clothing that is OEKO-TEX Stanard 100 is held to a higher standard of safety measurements and takes into account every step of the clothing production process. OEKO-TEX is one of the best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances in the world. You have probably seen their lable on children's clothing, especially newborn outfits, as these items need to be particularly safe for young sensitive skin. You can read more about their standards on their website, but it is safe to say any organic cotton fabric that is labeled OEKO-TEX Standard is safe. Organic Cotton that is labeled GOTS certified is another standard for organic clothing, however, this only looks at the production of cotton and not necessarily the entire product itself. So all this and what's the benefit? A couple of benefits of cotton listed by Australian Cotton include:
- Cotton is naturally sustainable
- Cotton supports farmers and communities
- You sleep better with cotton
- Cotton is hypoallergenic
- Cotton is odor-free
- Cotton is low maintenance
- Cotton is versatile
And although these "benefits" of cotton are good, they might not be enough for us to change our wardrobe. But cotton has one more benefit that you might have never thought of or heard of, which is the reason I have decided to source it for my wardrobe. In 2003, Jewish Doctor Heidi Yellen did a frequency study on natural fibers. I am going to get a little bit sciency on you for a minute so bear with me, I promise it's hardly that much. The human body has a frequency wave throughout the body, brain, and organs. See page 3 of Aggregate Frequencies of Body Organs to see which organs have which frequencies; this is a paper on the natural frequency of the human body. According to Heidi Yellen's study, the human body's base signature frequency for the whole body is 100 mHZ. A diseased or nearly dead person's signature frequency is about 15 mHZ. Frequencies that fall below the human body's signature frequency (for example a frequency of 15 mHZ) put a strain on the human body. According to Dr. Heidi Yellen, "[He] identified signature frequencies that identified illness also and had turned to help people get well." The words in brackets are mine. This Life Giving Linen site also references Dr. Royal Raymond Rife's studies in the 1920s that confirmed that frequencies that fall below the human body base frequency signify a compromised immune system. So what does this have to do with cotton? So believe it or not, fabric has a frequency to itself, even synthetic fabrics such as polyester or acrylic. The frequency of polyester, rayon, and silk fall somewhere around 15 mHZ, which, according to what I just showed you, would put a strain on the body and signifies a compromised immune system. These fabrics emanate the same frequencies as if the body is sick. Non-organic cotton's frequency rests somewhere around 70 mHZ (closer to the human body) and Organic Cotton has a frequency of 100 mHZ which is the same as the signature human frequency according to Dr. Heidi Yellen. This means that by wearing cotton, the frequency is not interacting with the human body negatively, putting strain on the body, and compromising health. This is why I have chosen to continue to source cotton fabric (preferably organic and OEKO-TEX Standard) when I can.
2. Linen
So now that we got through all that, what about linen? Much like cotton, linen is another natural crop that is harvested and made into fibers that can be woven or knit together (although they are most commonly woven together). Linen can feel scratchy when it is new, but as linen is washed and worn it gets softer and stronger, making it an incredibly durable fabric. But what about the chemicals? Well, unlike cotton, linen is not as common and not as high on the list of crops with quite a few pesticides. Although it would be preferable to find organic linen or OEKO-TEX Standard linen, it is not as important. So what's the deal with linen? Well according to Stillwell Memorial Hospital, some of the health benefits of linen include:
- Linen is ultra-hygienic
- Linen is anti-static
- Linen is antibacterial
- Linen may help to stimulate healthy blood flow
- Linen is very breathable
- Linen is eco-friendly
- Linen is long-lasting and very durable
- Linen is odor-resistant
- Linen is great for those with sensitive skin
You may already see that linen far out beats cotton when it comes to health benefits. So while they are both "natural" they are far from equal. But what about the frequency of linen? Well, since we looked at the base frequency of cotton, let's look at the base frequency of linen. According to Dr. Heidi Yellen, linen has a base frequency of 5000 mHZ. Woah! That is 50 times the signature frequency of the human body. But is that a good thing? Yes. So while frequencies that are lower than the human body put a strain on the body, frequencies that are higher than the human body give energy to the human body. Additionally according to Dr. Yellen, "[Dr. Philip Callahan] had discovered that flax cloth, as suggested in the Books of Moses [the Torah or Pentatuch], acts as an antenna for the energy. He found that when the pure flax cloth was put over a wound or local pain, it greatly accelerated the healing process." The words in brackets are mine. This is one of the reasons hospital bedsheets and bandages used to be made out of linen. So now you might see why linen is so beneficial for the body, and why so many "Crunchy" people are concerned with whether something is linen or wool. But oops, I've already given away what I'm about to tell you next, so now let's take a look at wool.
3. Wool
Much like linen, the study by Dr. Heidi Yellen found that wool also held a base frequency of 5000 mHZ making it another "super fabric" for the human body. However, the frequency of wool flows from left to right, while the frequency of linen flows from right to left. When worn together the frequencies cancel each other out leaving the fabrics with a frequency of 0 mHZ (lower than polyester, viscose, or silk). But besides the difference in direction, the higher frequency provides the body while the same benefits as that of linen: a greater source of energy and healing properties. Additionally wool has some benefits beyond its frequency which make it another great natural fabric to wear. Some of the benefits below are listed on Ecoable and Great Outdoor Exchange and St. Peter Woolen Mill.
- Wool is Natural and Renewable
- Wool is Safe
- Wool is Fire Retardant
- Wool is Biodegradable
- Wool is Breathable
- Wool is Easy Care (don't have to wash often)
- Wool is Multi-climate
- Wool is a Natural Insulator
- Wool is Elastic
- Wool is Warm even while Wet
- Wool is Mold and Mildew resistant
- Wool is Anti-bacterial
So much like linen, wool has a slew of benefits that don't only include the base frequency of the fabric. Wool is a great natural alternative for clothing and surprisingly enough can easily be found in reuse stores for not that much. Wool can also be used in cloth diapering and is great for newborn babies since they are not just adapt to regulating their body heat. Much like linen, wool is another natural fabric that is better for your body than cotton.
4. Silk
Although we have already gone over that silk has a relatively low base frequency (around 25 mHZ) it does not make it entirely unbeneficial. If I am going to wear silk, I like to pair it with at least one linen or wool piece of clothing so that the lower frequency of the silk is balanced by the higher frequency of wool or linen. According to Everyday Health, some of the benefits of silk include:
- Silk is a Cooling Fabric
- Silk Help Keeps Moisture Close to the Skin (Moisturizing)
- Silk has Antimicrobial Properties
- Silk is Hypoalergetic
- Silk is Great for Your Hair
- Silk is Naturally Sourced
A good rule of thumb is to use anything in moderation and be mindful of the choices you make.
5. Hemp
So far as I can see there are no studies on the frequencies of hemp, so I will not be able to speak on that. However, aside from that, hemp fabric can be very beneficial in its way. It is a little bit rougher than your other natural fabrics, however, it is very durable and resistant, making it a good alternative for work pants, cloth diapering, and household products. According to Bambu some of the benefits of hemp fabric include:
- Hemp is Naturally pest-resistant so can be grown pesticide-free
- Hemp is Durable and long-lasting
- Hemp is 4x the durability of other natural fibers
- Hemp is Sustainable and renewable, high-yield crop
- Hemp is an All-natural fiber
- Hemp is Absorbent
6. Bamboo or Viscose/Rayon
So a huge fashion industry push that I have seen lately is bamboo fabric and it is considered a sustainable fabric option. While probably more sustainable than polyester or acrylic, bamboo is a type of viscose fabric (or sometimes rayon) which means the bamboo fibers are "melted" down using harsh chemicals and molded into strands that cool into fibers that can be woven or knit together. You probably didn't know, but viscose, rayon, and lycolle are typically made from trees or other plants using a similar process, although when it comes to bamboo, typically our clothes' tag simply says "made from bamboo." While you can buy organic bamboo fabric on the market, due to the highly chemicalized process of production, it is not considered a natural fabric. Instead is it a semi-synthetic piece of clothing. The only reason I have it on this list is because bamboo fabric is often categorized as a natural fabric when it is not and I wanted to clarify that.
7. Conclusion
So is it worth it to wear and source natural fiber clothing? In my opinion yes, but for your clothing that you are going to wear MOST often. For example, I have a couple of linen T-shirts and cotton shorts for around the house. And although it would be fun to go out and source beautiful 100% linen dresses, if I truly care about swapping for health reasons, I need to start with what I wear most often. This goes back to my blog post from last week about starting to make sustainable swaps with the items you use every day. For me, I try to prioritize sourcing linen or wool, especially when I am buying secondhand. Although cotton is a good natural fiber alternative, wool or linen is better. You might be already sweating over the costs of these items, but trust me, your local Goodwill or thrift store has these pieces in excess. They might not be the fashion-forward statements of clothing you are looking for, but if you are starting with home-time attire, it shouldn't matter. I hope this post today has helped inform you about the clothing you wear so that you can make a more informed decision about your home.
Note on Frequencies
Although I cannot find the article, I had read that the study by Dr. Heidi Yellen only looked at fabric that was not blended so 100% linen or 100% wool for example. It was observed that the blending of fabrics interrupted the base frequency of fabrics. So when sourcing for linen or wool, it is best to try and find "Kosher" pieces that are not blended if you are seeking out the restorative benefits of linen and wool.
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